The Druzhina were the elite knights of the Medieval Kievan Rus! Click the link https://www.blinkist.com/invicta in my description to start your free 7 day trial with Blinkist and get 25% off of a Premium membership.

This Units of History documentary explores the early history of Ukraine and Russia through the lens of the Elite Druzhina of the Kievan Rus. The video begins with the geography of eastern europe and the various peoples of early and late antiquity who came to occupy these lands. Among the most prominent of these were the Slavs who soon merged with the steppe and norse tribes that frequently entered their lands for trade and conquest. We cover the rise of the Kievan Rus under Prince Rurik and how his descendants came to carve out a vast domain with the help of their loyal bodyguards. It is these men who would eventually become the Druzhina that both served as the military and administrative backbone of the realm. The documentary next covers the equipment, organization, tactics, and service history of these Kievan Rus knights. Notable examples of their campaigns invovled the siege of Constantinople against the Byzantines, the Battle of Alta River agains the Pechenegs, and the Battle on the Ice against the Tutonic Order.

Stay tuned for more episodes on the history of the Kievan Rus as a part of our ongoing exploration of the history of Ukraine and the history of Russia.

What Units of History should we cover next?

THE BYZANTINES
Byzantine Flamethrowers and Grenadiers :    • Units of History - Byzantine Flamethr...  
The Varangian Guard :    • Units of History - The Varangian Guar...  

THE HELLENISTIC WORLD
Macedonian Silver Shields :    • Units of History - The Macedonian Sil...  
Macedonian Companion Cavalry :    • Units of History - The Macedonian Com...  
The Spartan Skiritai :    • Units of History: The Skiritai - Spar...  
The Spartan Royal Guard :    • Units of History - The Spartan Royal ...  
The Sacred Band of Thebes :    • Units of History - The Sacred Band of...  
Mycenaean Chariots :    • Units of History - Mycenaean Chariots...  
Balearic Slingers :    • Units of History - The Balearic Sling...  

THE ROMANS
Roman Cataphracts :    • Units of History - Roman Cataphracts ...  
Roman Army Spies :    • Units of History - The Speculatores: ...  
Roman Army Scouts :    • Units of History - The Exploratores: ...  

THE NORTHMEN
The Jomsvikings Mercenaries :    • Units of History - The Jomsvikings Me...  
Viking Berserkers :    • Units of History - Viking Berserker D...  
Early Germanic Warriors :    • Units of History - Early Germanic War...  

THE AFRICANS
Nubian Archers :    • Units of History - Nubian Archers - L...  
The Sacred Band of Carthage :    • Units of History - The Sacred Band of...  
Carthaginian War Elephants :    • Units of History - Carthaginian War E...  
The Numidian Cavalry :    • Units of History - The Numidian Caval...  

THE NEAR EAST
The 10,000 Immortals :    • Units of History - The 10,000 Immorta...  

Sources and Suggested Reading:
The Rus Primary Chronicle
Armies of Medieval Russia by Osprey Publishing

Credits:
Research = Sophia Ware
Writing = Sophia Ware
Narration = Guy Michaels
Artwork = Penta Limited

#History
#Ukraine
#Documentary